Tick-tack-toe-like light game with color changeable squares

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed an apparatus which may be used to demonstrate the effect of adding and subtracting colors and which may also be used as a tick-tack-toe-like game. The apparatus comprises a frame member having opaque sides, an open top portion and a light source located within the frame member. At least two identical layers are positioned in vertically spaced relation to each other within the frame and above the light source. The layers each comprise a plurality of relatively movable light transmitting elements which have preselected colors. In order to see the effect of changing colors, one need only replace one of the light transmitting elements within the frame with an additional light transmitting element of a different color. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus makes use of the principle of subtractive color mixing. Each of the individual movable elements is colored in one of the three pigment primary colors; cyan, yellow and magenta. When two primary colors are combined, a secondary color appears; namely, green, blue and red.

nited States Patent [191 Strand 1 TICK-TACK-TOE-LIKE LIGHT GAME WITHCOLOR CIIANGEABLE SQUARES [76] Inventor: JackW. Strand, 1038 Park Ave.,River Forest, 111.

[22] Filed: Mar. 13, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 234,284

[52] U.S. CI 273/130 AB, 35/283, 273/130 B,

273/130 B, 131 A, 131 AB, 131 D, 134 A,

135 A, 136 A, 156, 157 A; 272/8 R, 8 D; 35/27, 28.3, 75; 40/132 D, 132E; 356/173, 174, 186, 190, 256

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,130,972 4/1964Schwarzlander 273/131 AB 3,588,115 6/1971 Nichols 273/157 A X 3,606,3359/1971 Reiner et al. 273/157 A UX 3,623,729 11/1971 Wetherell 273/130 BX 2,575,269 11/1951 Hall 273/130 AB 3,152,805 10/1964 McGinn 273/130 AB3,591,182 7/1971 Grubler 273/134 A UX 2,917,836 12/1959 Balinkin et a135/283 3,314,167 4/1967 Allgood 35/283 1,465,160 8/1923 DiLuchio 273/131AB 3,532,342 10/1970 Simpson et al. 273/131 AB UX 3,021,140 2/1962Lushansky, Jr. 273/130 B 3,618,078 11/1971 Wittman et a1. 40/132 D X 1Dec. 11, 1973 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 797,013 6/1958 GreatBritain 273/156 Primary ExaminerAnton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-R.T. Stouffer Att0mey-Richard G. Lione et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT There is disclosed an apparatus which may be used todemonstrate the effect of adding and subtracting colors and which mayalso be used as a tick-tack-toe-like game. The apparatus comprises aframe member having opaque sides, an open top portion and a light sourcelocated within the frame member. At least two identical layers arepositioned in vertically spaced relation to each other within the frameand above the light source. The layers each comprise a plurality ofrelatively movable light transmitting elements which have preselectedcolors. In order to see the effect of changing colors, one need onlyreplace one of the light transmitting elements within the frame with anadditional light transmitting element of a different color. In thepreferred embodiment, the apparatus makes use of the principle ofsubtractive color mixing. Each of the individual movable elements iscolored in one of the three pigment primary colors; cyan, yellow andmagenta. When two primary colors are combined, a secondary colorappears; namely, green, blue and red.

12 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PAIENTEOnm I ma SHEU 2 [IF '3 BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus fordemonstrating certain additive and subtractive color phenomenon. Theapparatus may further be used as a tick-tack-toe-like game.

Artists concerned with the development of devices for demonstrating theinteraction of several colors have long recognized the need for anapparatus which may be constructed to readily demonstrate subtractivecolor mixing. When light reaching the eye has been modified byinteraction with matter; i.e., light reflected by a surface or lighttransmitted by a filter, or color transparent element, the subtractivecolor mixing process is involved. When light has been subjected to morethan one interaction with matter before reaching the eye, as, forexample, light passing through two or more transparentcolored elements,we may speak of such light as a subtractive color mixture.

Heretofore, color demonstration devices were generally complex instructure and relatively expensive to manufacture. Furthermore, suchdevices could not be used for anything other than demonstrating colormixture. The device of the present invention is extremely simple andinexpensive to manufacture and is suitable for use either as a colormixing apparatus or as a ticktack-toeJike game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The general purpose of this invention is toprovide an apparatus suitable for demonstrating the principle ofsubtractive color mixing and is further applicable to be used as atick-tack-toe-like game. To attain this, the present inventioncontemplates providing a frame member having opaque sides, an open topportion and a light source located within the frame member. A pluralityof individually movable light transmitting elements are arranged to forma first light transmitting layer which is spaced above the light sourceand connected to the frame member and a second light transmitting layerspaced above the first light transmitting layer and also connected tothe frame member. Each of the individually movable light transmittingelements are dyed to a preselected color. In the preferred embodiment,three colors are used; namely, the three pigment primary colors; cyan,yellow and magenta. When the apparatus is viewed from the top, thesecond layer will appear to be of different colors, depending upon thecolor of both the first layer and second layer. To change the colors, itis only necessary to change one of the light transmitting elements ineither the first layer or the second layer.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide anapparatus for demonstrating the principle of subtractive color mixing.

Another object is to provide an apparatus which may be used either todemonstrate the principle of subtractive color mixing or may be used asa tick-tack-toe-like game.

A further object is the provision of a threedimensionaltick-tack-toe-like game using the principle of subtractive color mixing.

Still another object is to provide a tick-tack-toe-like game which isrelatively inexpensive to manufacture and which is aestheticallypleasing.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apreferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of one of the elements shown in FIGS. 1, 2and 3.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of a color pattern used in thetick-tack-toe-like game.

FIGS. 8-10 are diagrammatic views demonstrating the scoring of thetick-tack-toe-like game.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawingswherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding partsthroughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1, whichillustrates a preferred embodiment of the inven tion, an apparatus 10which is suitable for demonstrating the mixing of colors and which mayalso be used as a tick-tack-toe-like game. The apparatus 10 comprises aframe member 12 having opaque sides 14. The frame member 12 in thepreferred embodiment is quadrilateral and more particularly, is square.However, the actual shape of the frame may be modified and need not bequadrilateral nor square.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, it can be seen that the frame member 12includes a base member 16 and an open top portion 18. A lighttransmitting surface 20 is superposed on top of the frame member 12 sothat the entire open top portion 18 is covered. Located within the framemember 12 is a light source 22. The light source 22 may comprise asingle bulb or light, such as fluorescent light, or a plurality of bulbsor lights. The light source is connected to a conventional power supplyand a conventional switch by the wires 24. However, it will berecognized that the light source 22 may also be energized through theuse of a self-contained DC power source such as a battery and if thiswere done, the battery may be located within the frame member 12 and thewire 24 could be eliminated. A conventional on/off switch would then beprovided either on or adjacent to the frame member 12.

The light transmitting surface 20 comprises a plurality of lighttransmitting layers 26 and 28. In the preferred embodiment, two suchlayers are shown; however, it will be recognized that any number oflayers may be utilized. Each of the light transmitting layers 26 and 28comprise a track means 30 which is connected to the opaque sides 14 ofthe frame member 12. The track means 30 is adapted to enable a pluralityof light transmitting elements 32 to be mounted thereon. The track means30 is so arranged as to form a plurality of columns of the lighttransmitting elements 32. In the preferred embodiment, three columns oflight transmitting elements 32 are utilized. However, any number ofcolumns may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention.As can clearly be seen in FIGS. 1 through 3, the light transmittingelements 32 form the light transmitting layers 26 and 28 and theycompletely cover the open top portion 18 of the frame member 12.

The track means 30 may comprise an open frame or it may alternativelycomprise a clear plastic grid over the entire open top portion 18 andhaving upstanding members which function as guide tracks for the lighttransmitting elements 32. The light transmitting elements 32 may bemanufactured from any transparent material such as plastic. The tilesmay then be dyed in a conventional manner. The colors may be arranged onthe tile in such a maner as to form a design or geometric pattern asshown in FIG. 6. As will be explained below, the colors used in thedesign may be changed through the principle of subtractive color mixing.However, for the sake of clarity and conciseness, the invention will bedescribed in terms of light transmitting elements having a single colorthereon such as shown in FIG. 5. More particularly, the lighttransmitting elements 32 will be dyed with one of the three pigmentprimary colors; cyan (blue-green), yellow and magenta (blue-red).

It is a well known principle that when two pigment primary colors arecombined, a secondary color appears. For example, cyan plus yellow willproduct green; cyan plus magenta will produce blue, and yellow plusmagenta will produce red. This principle is known as subtractive colormixing and may be demonstrated through the use of the apparatus 10. Toaccomplish this, a plurality of light transmitting elements 32 arearranged on the track 30 of the light transmitting layers 26 and 28. Thelight transmitting elements 32 are arranged in a preselected colorpattern. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, three magenta lighttransmitting elements 32m may be placed along one diagonal of each ofthe light transmitting layers 26 and 28. Simiarly, three cyan lighttransmitting elements 320 may be placed in the position shown in FIG. 7while three yellow light transmitting elements 32y may be used in theremaining positions which are open in the light transmitting layers 26and 28. It is desirable to insure that the colors of the lighttransmitting elements 32 are in identical positions in both the lighttransmitting layer 26 and the light transmitting layer 28 and, thus,when viewed from above, the colors magenta, yellow and cyan will appearin the respective places shown in FIG.

To demonstrate the principle of subtractive color mixing, one need onlyreplace one of the light transmit ting elements 32 which are present inthe apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with an additional light transmittingelement of another color. This substitution of light transmittingelements may occur in either of the two light transmitting layers 26 or28. For example, one of the magenta light transmitting elements 32mlocated in the light transmitting layer 26 may be replaced with a yellowlight transmitting element 32y. Since magenta and yellow produce red,this square would then appear to be red when viewed from the top. Thesame result would occur if the magenta light transmitting elementwerereplaced in the light transmitting layer 28 rather than in the lighttransmitting layer 26. Thus, it can be seen, merely by substitutinglight transmitting elements throughout the several layers, differentcolors may be produced and may be viewed from the top of the apparatus10.

Using the apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a tick-tack-, toe gamemay be produced. To use the apparatus 10 as a game, it is desirable toarrange the light transmitting layers 26 and 28 in such a manner thattheir tracks 32 are perpendicular to each other. It is furtherdesirable, to provide that the light transmitting elements 32 areslidable in one direction only. For example, referring to FIG. 2, thelight transmitting elements 32 in the light transmitting layer 26 may bemade to slide to the right while the light transmitting elements 32 inthe light transmitting layer 28 may be made to slide towards the reader.

To play the game of three-dimensional tick-tack-toe, and the lighttransmitting elements in each of the layers 26 and 28 are arranged asshown in FIG. 7. While FIG. 7 shows a design having three columns andthree rows, it will be recognized that this may be increased to anynumber of columns and any number of rows; however, it would be desirableto have an equal number of columns and an equal number of rows.Furthermore, while the game is being described using two lighttransmitting layers 26 and 28, any number of layers may be utilized,thereby increasing the difficulty and complexity of play of the game andincreasing the interest. After the light transmitting elements 32 arearranged as shown in FIG. 7, the source oflight 22 may then beenergized, thereby illuminating all of the light transmitting elements32. Since the light transmitting elements 32 which are in the lighttransmitting layer 28 are identical in color to the respective lighttransmitting elements 32 directly below in the light transmitting layer26, the same color appears when viewed from the top. However, if theelements in the upper light transmitting layer 28 differed from thecolor in the light transmitting element 32 in the lower lighttransmitting layer 26, mixing would occur and a third color would beformed. In other words, if a yellow element 32y is above a cyan element320, the color green would appear in the space occupied by theseelements.

To play the game, each playerreceives three additional lighttransmitting elements, one of each of the colors magenta, cyan andyellow. Each player then selects one of the secondary colors of blue,green or red as his color and the object of the game is to set up a rowof three spaces in the elected secondary color. This row may behorizontal, vertical or diagonal. The establishment of a row would scoreone point. For example, if the player were to choose the secondary colorblue, one point would be scored if the elements in light transmittinglayers 26 and 28 could be arranged to produce blue as shown in FIG. 8.If the player were to choose green as his color, two points would bescored if he produced the color shown in FIG. 9 while if a player wereto choose red, three points would be scored if he could produce a colorshown in FIG. 10.

The sequence of play may proceed in a clockwise or counterclockwisedirection. Eachg 'player inserts one of his additional lighttransmitting elements in one of the 'three tracks of the upper lighttransmitting layer 28 or the lower light transmitting layer 26.Inserting the additional light transmitting elements 32 will force alight mitting element, a row of a secondary color is formed, the pointis scored for the player having that secondary color as explained above.For example, if the green player is inserting the light transmittingelement 32 and a row of three red spaces are formed, one point isawarded to the player who has chosen red as his color. ln addition, theplayer who has chosen red then follows the green player, he may inserthis tile so that he leaves the red row intact. After his move, the redrow is again scored as well as any additional rows which may have beenformed. The first player to score a preselected number of points wouldwin the game.

Obviously, many modifications may be made in the sequence of play of thegame and furthermore, other colors may be utilized rather than theprimary colors. Obviously, many modifications and variations of thepresent invention are possible in light of the above teachings and itshould be understood that the foregoing disclosure relates to only apreferred embodiment of the invention and that numerous modifications oralterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit andthe scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A three-dimensional tick-tack-toe-like game apparatus comprising:

a square frame member having four sides and an open top portion;

located within said frame member;

a first track means connected to said frame member wherein said firsttrack means is parallel to one pair of said sides and wherein said firsttrack means forms a first preselected number of columns;

a second track means connected to said frame member wherein said secondtrack means is vertically spaced from said first track means and whereinsaid second track means forms asecond preselected number of columns;

a first preselected number of light transmitting elements havingpreselected colors slidably mounted within each of said columns of saidfirst track means wherein said elements form a first layer having saidfirst preselected number of columns and a first preselected number ofrows, said first preselected number of rows being determined by thenumber of elements in one of said columns whereby said first layercomprises a preselected number of squares having a preselected colorpattern;

a second preselected number of light transmitting elements havingpreselected colors slidably mounted within each of said columns of saidsecond track means wherein said elements form a second layer having saidsecond number of preselected columns and a second preselected number ofrows, said second number of rows being determined by the number ofelements in one of said comumns whereby said second layer comprisesapreselected number of squares having a preselected color pattern;

a light source located within said frame member and adjacent to saidsecond layer of elements which illuminates said first layer of elementsthrough said second layer of elements; and

additional light transmitting elements having preselected colors whereinsaid additional elements are adapted to slidably replace any one of theouter elements in any row or column of said first layer and said secondlayer thereby changing the color of one of said squares when viewedthrough said open top portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first layer and said secondlayer comprise an equal number of squares.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said layers each comprise ninesquares arranged in three rows and three columns.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each of said elements in any row andin any column of one of said layers are of a different preselectedcolor.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said elements in said second layereach comprise the identical color to the element directly beneath it insaid first layer.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said preselected colors comprisemagenta, yellow and cyan.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said additional elements areselected from the color group consisting of magenta, yellow and cyan.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said elements in said first layerare slidable only in a first direction and said elements in said secondlayer are slidable only in a second direction perpendicular to saidfirst direction.

9. A three-dimensional tick-tack-toe-like game apparatus comprising:

at least two identical layers positioned in vertically spaced relationto each other to form a group of layers wherein a first layer lies in afirst plane and a second layer lies in a second plane;

said layers each including nine relatively movable light transmittingelements of preselected colors arranged to form three columns and threerows of squares wherein each of said elements is movable within saidrespective plane;

a light source adjacent to said first layer and exterior to said groupof layers which illuminates said second layer through said first layer;and

additional elements having said preselected colors, said elements beingadapted to replace one of said nine elements in one of said layers,thereby possibly changing the effective color of one of said squareswhen viewed from a position adjacent to said second plane and exteriorfrom said group.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said preselected colors of saidelements in each of said rows comprise magenta, yellow and cyan.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said additional elements areselected from the color group consisting of magenta, yellow and cyan.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said elements in said first layerare relatively movable only in a first direction and said elements insaid second layer are only movable in a second direction.

1. A three-dimensional tick-tack-toe-like game apparatus comprising: asquare frame member having four sides and an open top portion; locatedwithin said frame member; a first track means connected to said framemember wherein said first track means is parallel to one pair of saidsides and wherein said first track means forms a first preselectednumber of columns; a second track means connected to said frame memberwherein said second track means is vertically spaced from said firsttrack means and wherein said second track means forms a secondpreselected number of columns; a first preselected number of lighttransmitting elements having preselected colors slidably mounted withineach of said columns of said first track means wherein said elementsform a first layer having said first preselected number of columns and afirst preselected number of rows, said first preselected number of rowsbeing determined by the number of elements in one of said columnswhereby said first layer comprises a preselected number of squareshaving a preselected color pattern; a second preselected number of lighttransmitting elements having preselected colors slidably mounted withineach of said columns of said second track means wherein said elementsform a second layer having said second number of preselected columns anda second preselected number of rows, said second number of rows beingdetermined by the number of elements in one of said comumns whereby saidsecond layer comprises a preselected number of squares having apreselected color pattern; a light source located within said framemember and adjacent to said second layer of elements which illuminatessaid first layer of elements through said second layer of elements; andadditional light transmitting elements having preselected colors whereinsaid additional elements are adapted to slidably replace any one of theouter elements in any row or column of said first layer and said secondlayer thereby changing the color of one of said squares when viewedthrough said open top portion.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein saidfirst layer and said second layer comprise an equal number of squares.3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said layers each comprise ninesquares arranged in three rows and three columns.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 3 wherein each of said elements in any row and in any column ofone of said layers are of a different preselected color.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 4 wherein said elements in said second layer eachcomprise the identical color to the element directly beneath it in saidfirst layer.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said preselected colorscomprise magenta, yellow and cyan.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5 whereinsaid additional elements are selected from the color group consisting ofmagenta, yellow and cyan.
 8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein saidelements in said first layer are slidable only in a first direction andsaid elements in said second layer are slidable only in a seconddirection perpendicular to said first direction.
 9. A three-dimensionaltick-tack-toe-like game apparatus comprising: at least two identicallayers positioned in verticallY spaced relation to each other to form agroup of layers wherein a first layer lies in a first plane and a secondlayer lies in a second plane; said layers each including nine relativelymovable light transmitting elements of preselected colors arranged toform three columns and three rows of squares wherein each of saidelements is movable within said respective plane; a light sourceadjacent to said first layer and exterior to said group of layers whichilluminates said second layer through said first layer; and additionalelements having said preselected colors, said elements being adapted toreplace one of said nine elements in one of said layers, therebypossibly changing the effective color of one of said squares when viewedfrom a position adjacent to said second plane and exterior from saidgroup.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said preselected colors ofsaid elements in each of said rows comprise magenta, yellow and cyan.11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said additional elements areselected from the color group consisting of magenta, yellow and cyan.12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said elements in said first layerare relatively movable only in a first direction and said elements insaid second layer are only movable in a second direction.